Jesus wept
It is known as the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Actually, in many Bible translations, two other verses are just as short, containing only two words:…
He loves me, he loves me not
Was I imagining things, or did I read the message accurately? The bumper sticker on the car ahead of me had only a few words on it, but driving at…
Practicing Christian freedom
In the first installment of "Free in Christ," you learn how two congregations offer adult Bible classes to their members. The approaches are different, but the goals and outcomes are…
Opening doors in Advent and beyond
I grew up with Advent calendars. You know, the kind that are printed on thick stock paper and have little doors that, when opened, reveal a lamb or a shepherd…
Thankful saints
November can be a cruel month. For people who live in the northern climes of our country, November is the bridge from the colorful landscape of fall to the cold…
Pastor and wife appreciation month
Praise Martin Luther? No, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for what he accomplished through reformers like Martin Luther. In our praise to the Lord, it is common and appropriate…
Remembering a rite
Imagine a Lutheran pastor beginning a baptism service by blowing three times under the child’s eyes and then commanding the unclean spirit in the child to depart and make room…
Sympathy +
“I’m so sorry.” “I’m sorry for your loss.” “You have my sympathy.” I’m sure you recognize those statements, and you can probably picture a very common setting where they are…
A heritage of Word and song
Can you imagine a pastor not being able to recite the words of the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostles’ Creed? What would you think of people who identified themselves as…